Science Week spurs calls for bipartisan support

How scientists shared their skills.

At a time when encouraging science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills is firmly on the political radar, it was no surprise to see Canberra weigh heavily into the annual National Science Week celebration.

What was surprising, however, was how strongly the Government endorsed science, given its chequered relationship with the science community on the back of large research cuts and modest investment.

As National Science Week moved into full swing, the Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane used a speech in parliament to “reflect on the role of science in Australia”.

He said science was “critical for jobs, growth and business success".

However, he said there needed to be “a bigger bang for our science dollar”, noting that Australia is “poor at translating research into commercial outcomes”.

Macfarlane said the Government has been working to assemble the “building blocks” for a “coherent” long-term science strategy, and was seeking support.

“A sustained approach needs our collective energy and goodwill that crosses the political divide,” he said.

“In taking this long-term outlook, I emphasise the importance of a bipartisan approach to industry and science policy so that the decisions we make today – whether they’re in STEM, investment in research infrastructure or ways to boost our ability to commercialise research – can benefit Australia for decades to come.”

“You cannot say that you are committed to science if you ignore the evidence and shoot the messengers,” he said, citing funding cuts and the Government’s policy position on climate science.

Scientists steer clear of politics, stick to science

Outside the wrangling of parliament, Australia’s science community used National Science Week to showcase what science is already contributing to the country.

Consultancy PwC profiled scientists in its ranks – from a chemistry double-major that now works in PwC’s Research and Development Tax incentives team, to a pharmacy graduate that uses her science training “to help me interpret and make sense of complex information and to analyse data sets".

"There is an imperative for change in the way innovation and the research world is viewed and as this is Science Week, we thought it was time to bust a few of our scientists out of their labs and get the message out," CSIRO general manager of communication Oona Nielssen said.

"CSIROseven is about taking that message and attitude and busting a few perceptions, both externally and internally, about what CSIRO does and how we go about it."

Meanwhile, buoyed by Australia’s well-publicised involvement in recent space milestones – including the close pass of Pluto - the Australian National University is hoping to set some records of its own.

It is using National Science Week in a bid to “break two Guinness World Records - 'Most People Stargazing at a Single Site (Canberra)' and 'Most People Stargazing Across Multiple Sites in a Country (Australia)'.”